Hussey to captain Australian PM's XI

Canberra, Aug 20 - Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday launched the Prime Minister's XI match in the Bradman Room at Manuka Oval here where it was announced that former cricketer Mike Hussey will again captain and that a pink ball will be used.

The match will be played against New Zealand on October 23 here and will start the international summer of cricket in Australia.

Hussey played 79 Tests for Australia from 2005 to 2013 and 185 One-Day Internationals (ODI) from 2004 to 2012. He scored 6,235 Test runs at 51.52, including 19 centuries, and 5,442 ODI runs at an astonishing average of 48.15.

"It's a tremendous honour to be selected again to captain the Prime Minister's XI. Having been selected last year, I was unable to play due to injury but I know how important this fixture is on the Australian cricketing calendar, and it is a great tradition," said Hussey.

Hussey also unveiled the team's new uniform which moved to white in colour in line with the use of a pink ball. The remainder of the squad will be selected by Cricket Australia's (CA) National Selection Panel (NSP) later.

CA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Sutherland said he was looking forward to the fixture which will again be played under lights but this time with a pink ball.

"Congratulations to Mike again on his appointment as captain. Many fans can look forward to him taking to the park in Canberra in October. The Prime Minister's XI fixture has always been an important annual event on the Australian cricket calendar and we're pleased this year that it will open our international season," said Sutherland.

(IANS)